February 2010

Are Social Networking Sites Safe?

The internet has become one of the biggest communication networks. There are around 250 million internet users in the United States.* So the next time you post or blog on one of the popular social networking sites, think about how many people could see your comments.

Imagine your parents, your teachers, the police, and even strangers seeing your comments. These sites make keeping in touch with your friends and family a lot easier, but at the same time increase your exposure to unfriendly people. This does not mean you should avoid these sites, but you do need to be careful what information you make public knowledge.

Follow these safety tips:

  • Consider keeping your page on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn private. It is best to only allow your friends to access your account details. If a person requests to be your friend and you don't know who they are, ask your friends if they know the person. If you still don't know who the person is, you should decline their invitation.
  • Don't post information that could identify you or put your identity in jeopardy. You should not post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or credit union and credit card account numbers.
  • Be careful what you use as your screen name. If you make your screen name too descriptive, people could figure out who you are and where you live. You should avoid using your name, age and hometown as part of your screen name.
  • Post only information you want everyone to know. Once you post a comment online, you can't take it back. Even if you delete the message, the message could still exist on other people's computers. So the next time you are about to post, think before you submit.

For more information on how to stay safe on the internet, visit i-safe.org. **

*  Source: Internet World Stats, internetworldstats.com.
**  Web site provided for information only; no endorsement is implied.
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